Edwards AFB Calif -- Maj Gen Wilbert D. Pearson, Jr., Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) Commander, and representatives of three labor unions implemented a partnership agreement designed to create and enhance a safe and productive work environment on Edwards AFB. The agreement was signed by General Pearson and the Presidents of the three labor unions. These unions included the Sport Air Traffic Controllers Organization, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), (Local 1406) and the International Association of Firefighters, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Local F-53.
The AFGE 1406 union is the largest Union on Edwards Air Force Base, representing over 900 Wage Grade (WG) and Wage Leader (WL) blue-collar employees. Their bargaining unit consists mostly of aircraft maintenance personnel, civil engineering workers (electricians, painters, plumbers, etc.) and transportation personnel.
The California Professional Firefighters (CPF) union claims a membership of more than 30,000 members, CPF is the largest statewide organization dedicated exclusively to serving the needs of career firefighters. It is one of the nation’s strongest and most influential public employee organizations.
The SPORTs Air Traffic Control Union has been the exclusive representative of a unit of employees at the SPORT Military Radar Unit at Edwards Air Force Base, California, since July 9, 1990. There are 14 air traffic controllers and two electronic technicians in the unit represented by the union.